Systems and methods for broadband backup

Abstract

A method and system for providing a payment network via a plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks using a network interface device are provided. The method includes receiving, a first network message containing financial transaction data from a first one of a plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks, determining a destination of the financial transaction data from the network message, transmitting the financial transaction data to a second one of the plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks using a second network containing the financial transaction data, where at least one of the first one and the second one of the plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks is an Internet-based network that provides back-up access for transmitting the financial transaction data between a payment card interchange network and at least one of an issuer bank and a merchant bank using a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A network backup system comprising:
 a primary network configured to (i) route financial transaction authorization requests from a plurality of merchants to a payment card interchange network and (ii) route financial transaction authorization responses from the payment card interchange to the plurality of merchants through one or more first networks during a first mode of operation; 
 a backup network configured to (i) route financial transaction authorization requests from the plurality of merchants to the payment card interchange network and (ii) route financial transaction authorization responses from the payment card interchange to the plurality of merchants through one or more second networks during a second mode of operation; and 
 a first network monitor configured to determine the second mode of operation upon a failure of the one or more first networks and to advertise addresses of a plurality of network devices, using border gateway protocol (BGP) conditional advertising, as a backup access to direct peers of the failed network. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said backup network comprises a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first network monitor is configured to advertise a predetermined backup access to direct peers of the failed network. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first network monitor is configured to advertise a dynamically determined backup access to direct peers of the failed network. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said backup network comprises an Internet-based network. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said backup network comprises at least one of a satellite-based network, a wired or wireless network, a mobile phone network, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, a mobile data network, and a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) network. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said backup network is configured to re-establish a connection between the plurality of merchants and the payment card interchange network in the second mode of operation. 
     
     
       8. A method for providing alternate routing of financial transaction data between a first user and a second user, the method implemented using a network interface device including at least one processor coupled to at least one memory device, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the network interface device, a first network message containing financial transaction data from a first network of a plurality of networks; 
 determining a destination of the financial transaction data from the network message; 
 transmitting the financial transaction data to a second network of the plurality of networks using a second network, where 
 at least one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of networks is a network that provides back-up access for transmitting the financial transaction data between the first user and the second user using a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection comprising a plurality of network devices, the addresses of which are advertised using border gateway protocol (BGP) conditional advertising when one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of networks is at least one of unavailable, unusable, and unstable. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising monitoring a communication between the first network and the second network for failure and wherein upon failure the communication is routed through the Internet-based network. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein transmitting the financial transaction data comprises transmitting the financial transaction data using at least one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of networks to provide redundant access between a payment card interchange network and at least one of an issuer bank and a merchant bank through a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising setting Quality of Service (QoS) settings that permit intelligent routing of communications through networks between network endpoints. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising detecting a failure of the at least one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of networks and advertising a backup access to direct peers of the failed network. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of networks is an always-up Internet-based network. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of networks is an Internet-based network. 
     
     
       15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to:
 receive a first network message containing financial transaction data from a first network of a plurality of networks; 
 determine a destination of the financial transaction data from the network message; 
 transmit the financial transaction data to a second network of the plurality of networks using a second network containing the financial transaction data, 
 detect a failure of the first network connection; 
 advertise addresses of a plurality of network devices, that form a backup access to direct peers of the first network using border gateway protocol (BGP) conditional advertising; and 
 re-establish a connection between the first network and the second network through the backup access. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to monitor communications between a first service provider network and a second service provider network for Quality of Service (QoS). 
     
     
       17. The computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to set Quality of Service (QoS) settings that permit dynamic routing of communications through networks between network endpoints. 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the at least one processor to provide the back-up access between a payment card interchange network and at least one of an issuer bank and a merchant bank through a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection.